Andy Berke For Governor?

Senator Andy Berke of Chattanooga will be forming an exploratory committee for a possible gubernatorial campaign in 2010. From the e-mail press release:

"I’ve been traveling around the state and everywhere the story is the same. Tennesseans are worried about their jobs, their kids’ education and their ability to go see the doctor that they want. I’m looking for the best role for me to provide leadership and help to the people of our state in this tough time.”

He joins former Rep. Kim McMillan as the only candidate to make any official announcement. Harold Ford Jr. and Lincoln Davis were also rumored to be in the running on the Democratic side, but given the lack of movement on that front and the reasons previously mentioned, it's looking increasingly unlikely that either of them will run.

I've met Senator Berke several times, and I have to say that I think he's exactly what the doctor ordered for Tennessee Democrats. If the nascent Republican primary is any indicator, this race is going to be fought in East Tennessee, so it's imperative that our candidate be able to compete there. Andy Berke represents the changing, more progressive demographics of the Chattanooga area. The fact that his district compromises both urban and rural areas means that he'll understand the needs of all kinds of Tennesseans.

But beyond demographic concerns, Senator Berke is one of the few high-up Tennessee Democrats who understand how any Democrat can win at the state level. And actually, it has nothing to do with how many Wal-Marts or Waffle Houses you visit. It's about running on economic and other substantive issues and proposing constructive Democratic ideas for solving those issues. It is NOT about falling all over yourself to be as far to the right as possible on "God, gays,and guns." Republicans fall back on those issues for a reason--not because they genuinely believe in them (although they might), but because it's a tried and true method of turning out their base. It's fine for a statewide Democrat to be further to the right on those issues than your average liberal blogger, but you have to offer something else besides that. Otherwise, why would a voter consider you when they could just vote for the Republican?

If his Tennessean op-ed from November is any indicator, Senator Berke understands that perfectly:

Tennesseans still want an excellent education for their children and the safest, healthiest communities for their families. They want good jobs and equal opportunity. They want a clean environment, good roads and a quality of life that honors the best of who they are.

Any political party ignores these priorities at its peril. Where Republicans convinced voters that they were most likely to advance these causes, they deserved to win. Where, however, Democrats failed to campaign on these priorities or, worse, ran as nothing more than kinder, gentler Republicans, then the words of Harry Truman come to mind: "If it's a choice between a genuine Republican and a Republican in Democratic clothing, the people will choose the genuine article every time."

The one potential liability I see for Senator Berke is name recognition, especially given the Republican candidates' popularity. But he's starting out early enough that he should be able to overcome that problem.

Of course, in such a critical race, he'll also need plenty of money. You can donate at his ActBlue page here.